REVIEWED: Optoma ML550 portable LED projector
Packed with ins and outs, this DLP LED-powered 380g gadget is just bright enough for 60-inch movies
At just 380g but with 500 lumens on offer, the Optoma ML550 is a bright-looking package indeed.
Well connected
We’ve not seen so many connectivity options on a Pico projector like this before; on its rear are HDMI (it’s MHL-ready for smartphones and tablets), RGB PC (via an adaptor), USB 2.0 and a microSD card slot. There’s even an audio input, which flags-up its tiny, yet welcome 1W speaker.
1.5GB flash drive
The likes of AVI, MKV, MP4, H.264 and WMV files can be played from plug-in sources, or dragged and dropped to its 1.5GB innards. Meanwhile, its 1280 x 800 resolution – beyond hi-def but shy of Full HD – brings just enough detail, too, though it’s that LED-powered light source that proves the winning feature.
Bright images
Its Bright, Photo and PC modes are useful, but the fact that Cinema tones-down the brightness tells you what you need to know; pocket-sized yet as versatile as much larger, pricier projectors, Optoma’s ML550 makes an excellent film projector.